Oh no they did not plan to put this into orbit during Mercury Retrograde...!

"A NASA spacecraft bound for Mars is nearing the end of its seven-month journey, but still faces a white-knuckle arrival at a planet known for swallowing scientific probes, mission managers said Friday.

"The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is on course to enter orbit around the Red Planet on March 10. If successful, it will spend the next two years photographing the surface and scouting for future landing sites...

"Within the last 15 years, NASA has lost two spacecraft during the tricky orbit-insertion phase around Mars. In 1993, scientists lost contact with the Mars Observer just before it was to enter orbit. The space agency was dealt another blow six years later when the Mars Climate Orbiter failed on arrival."



Obviously, NASA needs an in-house astrologer. Merc Ret will be in full effect from March 2 until March 24.